Unlock Success in Science: Master the Math Skills Early in the Year

As the new school year approaches, the foundation you lay in the first few weeks is crucial for student success in any science class. What can you do to prepare your science students to be successful in your class?

There are few things about teaching during the first few weeks of school that I am more passionate about. We must, must, must re-teach, review, practice, and reinforce the math skills that our students will be using all year long. Providing students with the essential skills they need not only to excel in science but also in other aspects of life is time well-spent. My Chemistry Math comprehensive unit covers scientific measurements, graphing, calculations, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These skills equip students with the tools they need for academic and real-world success.

Why These Skills Are Essential

Mastering math skills in science early in the year is crucial for several reasons:

• Foundation for Advanced Topics: Scientific measurements and calculations are the building blocks of more complex concepts in chemistry and other sciences. Without a solid grasp of these basics, students may struggle with advanced topics later on.
• Lifelong Application: The ability to measure accurately, perform calculations, and solve problems is not just limited to the classroom. These skills are valuable in everyday life and many careers, from engineering to healthcare.
• Boosts Confidence and Performance: Early mastery of these fundamental skills can boost students' confidence, leading to better performance in subsequent, more challenging topics.

The Importance of Mastery

Developing proficiency in scientific measurements, calculations, and problem-solving sets students up for success in several ways:

• Accuracy and Precision in Experiments: Ensures reliable and repeatable results in laboratory settings.
• Critical Thinking: Enhances the ability to approach problems methodically and think critically about solutions.
• Academic Success: Provides a strong foundation for tackling more complex scientific concepts and experiments throughout the school year and beyond.

What’s Included in the Bundle?

Chemistry Math - Measurements, Calculations, and Problem Solving in Chemistry Bundle is not just for Chemistry teachers! Physical Science teachers will find this extremely beneficial and life science teachers can benefit as well. 

In this Math Skills Bundle, you will cover the following:

• Scientific Notation
• Accuracy, Precision, and Percentage Error
• Significant Figures
• The Metric System
• Density
• Dimensional Analysis
• Graphing and Data Analysis

All of the above skills are covered in the 138-Slide PowerPoint Presentation. Each of the above topics is thoroughly covered in the slides and notes. Students will LOVE the guided notes they fill in as you teach the lesson. There are LOADS and LOADS of practice problems. Both the PowerPoint and the notes are very easily editable so that you can cover just the topics you need. I have included digital formats as well.

To supplement the teaching PowerPoint, I have included rock-solid supporting materials to ensure your students master the concepts. Each topic in the PowerPoint is reinforced with a separate practice problem worksheet. Once practice is complete, you can use the short quizzes to check for student mastery. 

And what about labs? Well, there are 6 labs included in this bundle. In addition, there is a final unit test. The following are included in this bundle.

• Scientific Notation Worksheet and Quiz Set
• Accuracy, Precision, and Percentage Error Worksheet and Quiz Set
• Significant Figures Worksheet and Quiz Set
• Metric System Worksheet and Quiz Set
• Density Worksheet and Quiz Set
• Dimensional Analysis Worksheet and Quiz Set
• Graphing and Data Analysis Worksheet and Quiz Set
• Lab: Density of Metals
• Lab: Significant Digits
• Lab: Mass and the Laboratory Balance
• Lab: Length and the Meter Stick
• Lab: Volume and Temperature
• Lab: Graphing (Interpolation and Extrapolation)
• Final Unit Test

Investing time in mastering the basics of scientific measurements, calculations, and problem-solving at the beginning of the year is an investment in your students' long-term success. This Chemistry Math Unit Bundle offers the perfect combination of resources to help your students build these crucial skills. Set your students on the path to success in science and beyond with our comprehensive and engaging unit bundle.

Chemistry Chat: A First Day of School Science Lab Icebreaker

Chemistry Chat: 

A Fun and Interactive Icebreaker for the First Day of Chemistry Class

Let’s face it … those first few days of school can be overwhelming. You’re learning names, setting expectations, handing out syllabi, organizing lab safety rules, and trying to get a read on your new group of students. The last thing you want is a room full of glazed-over eyes as you launch into the dreaded reading of the class syllabus. That’s where Chemistry Chat comes in!

Don’t be the teacher that reads the syllabus out loud on the first day. Be the teacher that uses an awesome first day activity to get students out of their seats to help them meet one another. Not only is this a super-duper icebreaker activity, Chemistry Chat also provides you the teacher with valuable insights into the skills your students have (and don’t have!) as they begin your class.

Chemistry Chat is one of my favorite ways to kick off the school year. It’s a simple but powerful icebreaker that gets your students up, moving, talking, and thinking scientifically. It sets the tone for the kind of classroom environment you want to create: collaborative, curious, and chemistry-minded.

 

What is Chemistry Chat?

Chemistry Chat is a first-day-of-school icebreaker lab station activity that’s designed specifically for chemistry students. It’s structured as a series of engaging chat stations where students work in pairs or small groups to respond to prompts, questions, or mini-tasks that get them talking about science and about each other.

Each station includes a short, open-ended prompt like:

• "Describe what is happening in the dancing raisin demonstration."
• "What happened when the magnet was placed against the flask?"
• "If you could travel anywhere, what place would you choose? Include your answer and those of your group members.  

These prompts are intentionally low-stakes and designed to spark conversation, even among students who are shy or nervous. There’s no “right or wrong” answer at this stage. The goal is to encourage curiosity and create connections."

 

Why I Love Using Chemistry Chat

💬 It gets students talking.
Chemistry Chat gets students out of their seats and actively engaging with their peers. It gives them a chance to shake off those first-day jitters in a safe, structured way.

🔬 It’s science-minded without being intimidating.
While it’s fun and interactive, Chemistry Chat also introduces your students to key science skills like observation, discussion, inference, and evidence-based thinking.

👥 It builds classroom community.
Students leave class feeling like they belong. They’ve had a chance to meet each other, share ideas, and feel seen and heard.

🧪 It gives you insights.
As you circulate and listen, you’ll get a quick sense of where your students are in terms of prior knowledge, communication skills, and comfort with scientific concepts.

 

What’s Included in the Resource?

The Chemistry Chat resource comes with everything you need to implement this on Day 1, including:

• 10 printable lab station cards with thought-provoking chemistry prompts
• Editable version so you can tailor questions to your specific course
• Student answer sheet to encourage accountability and reflection
• Teacher guide with setup tips, timing suggestions, and optional follow-up activities

 

 

Want to Try Chemistry Chat in Your Classroom?

This activity is available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store, and it’s ready for you to print and use with minimal prep. You can check it out here:

👉 Chemistry Chat: First Day of School Icebreaker Lab Activity

If you're looking for a fun, low-stress, meaningful way to start your chemistry class off on the right foot, Chemistry Chat might be just what you need. Your students will leave that first day feeling engaged, connected, and excited about the year ahead.

PS: There is also a Biology Chat and a Physics Chat!

Chemistry Lab: Percent Composition

For the extremely busy chemistry teacher, it doesn't get much better than this for a great chemistry lab.  

Imagine this:

✅  Quick setup
✅  No crazy materials
✅  Hands-on science
✅  AND your students actually having fun while learning about percent composition.

Sounds like a dream? Nope — it’s just good teaching! 😎✨

TL;DR? Find this lab in my TPT store:

• Lab:  Determining Percent Composition

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🧪  What You’ll Need:

It is a good day for the chemistry teacher when these are the only lab supplies you need. 

• Baking soda 
• 2N sulfuric acid 
• A spot plate
• A Beral pipet (or basically any dropper)
• A laboratory balance
• A test tube

That's it. That’s literally the entire supply list. 🎉
No hunting for exotic lab supplies. No prepping for hours. Just good, clean chemistry (well, mostly clean... there might be a little fizz).

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🌟 What's Happening Here?

Students are going to figure out the percent composition of carbon in baking soda (fancy name: sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO₃). The percentage composition of a compound is the percentage by mass of each of the elements in the compound.  

When you mix baking soda with sulfuric acid, it bubbles and fizzes as carbon dioxide gas is released. According to the Law of Definite Proportions, the mass percentage of carbon in the bicarbonate will be constant, no matter how much sodium bicarbonate is used in the experiment.

Students simply weigh out an amount of baking soda. Drops of 2N sulfuric acid are added to the baking soda, one drop at a time. The reaction releases carbon dioxide. Students continue adding drops of acid until there is no further reaction.  

 

The mass of the apparatus is taken both before and after the completion of the reaction to determine the amount of carbon dioxide that has been released. From the mass of carbon dioxide released, students can mathematically determine the amount of carbon in the released sample, and therefore the percent composition of carbon in sodium hydrogen carbonate.

The student will determine the percent composition of carbon in sodium hydrogen carbonate, both experimentally and theoretically. The student will then determine his/her percent error.

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🔥 Why This Lab is Basically the Best Thing Ever

• Students see the chemistry happening right before their eyes.
• It locks in the concept of percent composition.
• It reinforces the calculations that are being taught in the classroom.
• Supplies are so basic you probably already have them.
• Setup and cleanup are a breeze.
• Real data + theoretical values = perfect chance to teach percent error.
• Safety? Easy. Goggles on, and you're good to go. (Dilute acid = low drama.)

And did I mention? Students LOVE the bubbling. LOVE. IT.

You can find this lab and other related resources in my TPT store:

• Lab:  Determining Percent Composition

Flame Tests: A Favorite Chemistry Lab

This experiment is a classic, must-do experiment for your chemistry students!

This flame test lab is an absolute favorite of mine and a much loved lab by all of my students. The best time to use this lab is when teaching atomic structure, electron configurations, energy levels, ground state, and excited state.  

Background:  A flame test is used to detect the presence of certain metal ions. The test involves heating a sample of the element and observing the resulting color of the flame. When atoms of elements are heated to high temperatures, some electrons may absorb enough energy to allow them to move to higher energy levels. The element is then said to be in the "excited state." This excited atom is unstable, and the electrons quickly return back to their positions of lower energy or their ground state. As the electrons return to their ground state, the energy that was absorbed is given off in the form of visible light. The color of this light can be used to identify the elements involved. In a flame test, the element will give off a characteristic color that serves as a simple method of identification of that element.   

Purpose:

• To observe the characteristic colors produced by metallic ions when heated in a flame.
• To identify an unknown metallic ion by means of its flame test.
• To identify the components of a mixture using cobalt glass.

Materials Required:  Bunsen burner, Lab apron, Wood Splints, Safety goggles, Unknown solutions, Test Tubes, Cobalt glass squares, Test Tube Racks, Nitrate solutions of sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, strontium, barium, and copper.

Tips and Suggestions:

• I like to set up different lab stations and have the students rotate through the stations. I set up stations for the 7 different metal ions that I will have the students test. Students are required to rotate through these 7 stations first.
• After the students have identified the colors of the above 7 metal ions, I assign an unknown for them to identify.  
• Finally, I have the students use cobalt glass to identify the components of a mixture.
• I have used metal inoculating loops as a means of heating the metal ion sample, but I prefer to use wood splints. They are cheap and disposable. Be sure to soak them in the metal nitrate solutions prior to the start of the lab. 

I set up individual lab stations for each metal ion and have students rotate through the stations.
This is a quick and easy way to set up the lab.

In a flame test, the element will give off a characteristic color.  It is difficult to catch on camera, but the below photos show the characteristic colors of barium (lime green) and lithium (crimson).

After students have observed all colors, I assign them an unknown element to identify.  

Using cobalt glass, students determine the identity of elements in a mixture.
When viewing the flame test with the naked eye, the student will see the yellow color of sodium.
When viewing the flame test while looking through the cobalt glass the student will see the violet color of potassium.

To me this lab serves a greater purpose than just learning to identify metal ions from their flame tests. This lab gets my students so excited about chemistry.... and that excitement makes all the difference in the world when trying to teach chemistry to high school students.

This lab is in my TpT store and can be viewed at this link.

Have Fun Teaching!